Bridle-bit



(No Model.)

R. SEARS & L. B. LINDSEY. BRIDLE BIT.

No. 492,241. Patented Feb. 21,1893.

A TTOHNE YS.

UNITE ATENT rrrcn.

ROBERT SEARS AND LUCIEN B. LINDSEY, OF SPOKANE, TVASHINGTON.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 492,241, datedFebruary 21, 1893. Application filed August 9,1892. SerialNo. 4%,538.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT SEARS and LUOIEN B. LINDSEY, both ofSpokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have inventeda new and Improved Bridle- Bit, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

Our invention relates to improvements in bits which are used in drivingbridles. In using an over-draw it is customary to attach the over-drawto a small metallic bit which is carried in the mouth of the horse, andpulling on the bit has a tendency to make the horses mouth sore, and itis very unfavorable for the horse. The ordinary driving bits are alsohard on the mouth, and as usually con structed they are likely to bedrawn lengthwise through the mouth so as to bring the rein ring or therein into the mouth, thus injuring the mouth and perhaps making thehorse unmanageable.

The object of our invention is to overcome these difficulties and toproduce a simple, easy and strong bit which may be conveniently appliedto any ordinary driving bridle and to the mouth of a horse, which willprevent the too great slipping of the main bit, and which will act as arest for the chin of the horse so that he can be checked up in the usualway without the least discomfort and Without injury to his mouth.

To this end our invention consists in certain parts and combinations ofthe same as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bridle provided with our improvedbit and applied to a horse; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of thebit; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 8-3 of Fig. 2; andFig. 4: is a cross section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

The improved bit is made preferably of leather so that it will be veryeasy to the mouth, but it may be made of any desired material, andinstead of a bar bit, as shown, a jointed bit may be used.

The bit 10 has elongated end loops or slots 11,

in which are secured the usual rein rings 12, to which the driving reins13 and bridle cheek piece 14 are attached. The bit 10 is also preferablyprovided with projecting end pieces 15 of leather, which arranged on theback side of the bit and which serve as guards to the sides of thehorses mouth and prevent the mouth from coming in contact with thereins. A chin strap 16 is adapted to pass around underneath the horseschin, and the end portions of this strap extend through the loops 11 andthe back portion or middle portion of the strap is provided with a pad17, which comes in contact with the chin and is therefore easy for thehorse and will not injure it. The ends of the strap 16 terminate in therings 18, which are adapted to project upward on the opposite sides ofthe horses muzzle, as shown in Fig. 1, and which are adapted to connectwith the lower end portions of an ordinary overdraw 20. If desired anose band may be secured to the rings 18. When the bridle is applied thebit 10 is inserted in the horses mouth in the usual way and the strap 16is slipped beneath the chin. When the overdraw 20 is checked up itraises the horses head in exactly the usual way, but instead of theweight of the horses head on the metallic bit resting against the roofof the horses mouth, the weight comes upon the pad 17, so that the horseis as comfortable as he possibly can be with his head checked up.

It will be seen that the mouth is thus entirel Y relieved from allexcessive strain and as the ends of the strap 16 project through the bitand inside of the rings 12, the said strap will act as a guard andprevent the bit from being drawn through the mouth and the rings. 12from coming in contact with the mouth. The loops 11 are madesufficiently long so that the bit 10 may have the necessary endwisemovement, and it willbe readily seen from the foregoing description thatthe bit will be very easy to the mouth, and that the horse may bechecked up without in anyway 5 injuring his mouth or interfering withhis breathing. It will also be seen that any form of a metallic bit maybe used in connection with the strap 16 as long as the bit has endloops, slots or keepers to receive the strap.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Let tors Patent 1. The combination with a bridle bit havingend loops or slots, at the ends of its mouth piece of a chin strapadapted to extend beneath the chin of a horse and having its endportions projecting up through the bit loops to render freely thereinand adapted to connect at their upper ends with a check rein,substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with the bridle bit having end slot or loops, of achin strap adapted to extend beneath the chin of a horse and having acentral pad to fit against the chin, the strap being held to move freelyin the loops and having its ends adapted for attachment to a check rein,substantially as shown and described. 7

3. The combination with a bridle bit hav ing end loops or slots whichreceive the rein rings, of a chin strap having its end portionsextending up through and rendering freely within the loops and inside ofthe rings, and an over draw Cl160k,S6Cl11(-)(1 to the upper ends of thesaid chin strap substantially as shown and described.

ROBT. SEARS. LUOIEN B. LINDSEY. Witnesses:-

SIMEON P. FRANCIS, J. F. MCLEMAN.

